A groundbreaking Sh105 million ($815,000) digital platform is set to transform the agricultural landscape for farmers in Kenya’s Narok, Nakuru, Baringo, and Nyandarua counties. This innovative tool is poised to reduce post-harvest losses and bolster the economic stability of farmers by streamlining the connection between cooperative societies, markets, and service providers.
The Kenya Rural Transformation Centre for Digital Platform (KRTCDP), a project piloted by the Cooperative University of Kenya (CUK) and the Kenyan government with funding from the African Development Bank, is designed to bridge critical gaps in the agricultural value chain. Wycliffe Oboka, a professor at CUK, emphasized the platform’s pivotal role in connecting farmers with essential resources. “As part of this initiative, we want to bring farmers and various actors along the value chain onto one digital platform,” Oboka stated.
Addressing Post-Harvest Losses
Post-harvest losses have long plagued Kenyan farmers, leading to economic inefficiencies and reduced incomes. The KRTCDP aims to address this challenge by enabling cooperative societies to identify potential buyers for their produce. By knowing where the market is and what the prices are, farmers can reduce the burden of holding onto produce for too long, a practice that often results in increased post-harvest losses. Prof. Oboka anticipates a significant reduction in these losses, estimating a decrease of about 30%.
So far, 152 cooperatives in the participating counties have been mapped, providing a robust network for the digital platform to thrive. This initiative is particularly crucial as farmers and cooperatives frequently face challenges in accessing timely market information. “There are many cases where farmers produce goods but are unable to reach the markets. Additionally, cooperatives often do not perform as well as expected,” explained Oboka. He highlighted the surplus of goods that often results from a lack of market information, knowledge, and access to critical support services.
Comprehensive Support for Farmers
In addition to market access, the platform offers farmers a comprehensive support system that includes access to farm inputs, extension services, and financial institutions. This integrated approach aims to empower farmers by providing them with the necessary tools and information to optimize their production processes. Farmers can upload pictures of symptoms encountered in crops and animals to the digital platform’s receipt and send section, where extension service providers will offer expert advice.
Professor Ken Waweru, Director of Research and Innovation at CUK, highlighted the platform’s potential to eliminate inefficiencies caused by middlemen. “The platform will ensure that cooperatives gain visibility in the market. Each member will have access to farm inputs and direct market connections,” he said. By directly connecting farmers with markets, the platform not only enhances farmers’ incomes but also improves transparency within cooperative operations.
Empowering Cooperatives and Enhancing Transparency
The KRTCDP is uniquely positioned to empower farmers through their cooperatives, granting them greater bargaining power and visibility in the market. Sylvester Odera, the lead developer for the project, emphasized the platform’s comprehensive nature, integrating all essential modules into one system. This approach addresses the issue of fragmented technologies that often hinder farmers’ productivity and profitability.
The platform provides three access channels: a web portal, a mobile app, and a USSD system, ensuring accessibility for farmers across different technological proficiencies. Helen Surum, Narok North’s cooperative officer, underscored the platform’s significance as a one-stop digital solution for cooperative societies. “The platform will significantly reduce post-harvest losses and increase farmers’ earnings. It will also help with market linkages and provide easy access to farm inputs,” she said.
As the KRTCDP enters the final stages of validation, it stands as a testament to the power of technology in revolutionizing agriculture. By connecting farmers to essential resources and markets, this digital platform is set to pave the way for a more efficient and prosperous agricultural sector in Kenya.
